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Physical Disabilities & Aging

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The Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding portal was launched September 30, 2022. Since the launch of the ARPA Funding Reporting portal, OLTL has received a higher than anticipated volume of portal access change requests, causing a delay in access to the portal. OLTL has also identified portal functionality and data discrepancy issues for which they are working with the Information Technology (IT) Development team to implement resolutions. As OLTL works to resolve the issues, the ARPA Funding Reporting Portal initial reporting due date of November 30, 2022, is being extended to February 28, 2023. Please reference the chart below for updated bi-annual reporting periods.

Report Period Due Dates
07/01/2021 – 12/31/2021

01/01/2022 – 06/30/2022

07/01/2022 – 12/31/2022

 2/28/2023
01/01/2023 – 6/30/2023 8/30/2023
07/01/2023 – 12/31/2023 2/28/2024

Portal Training & Support

Providers can use the DHS ARPA Reporting Portal User Guide to help navigate the new reporting portal. For portal access requests or questions, please contact the OLTL Provider Helpline at 800-932-0939, Option 2, or via email.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) released an announcement about an upcoming webinar that will focus on developing timely and acceptable Plans of Correction (POC). The webinar has been scheduled for December 12, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

The webinar, led by Jeanne Parisi, Director of the Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL), and Joshua Hoover of the Division of Training and Professional Development, will review DHS’ timelines for licensing activities, BHSL licensing procedures, the necessary elements for developing a quality POC, the basics of root-cause analysis, and the resources and assistance that are available. Attendees will also have the opportunity to workshop POC with fellow providers and BHSL staff.

The webinar is approved for Personal Care Home (PCH) and Assisted Living Residence (ALR) annual training hours. Members interested in participating in this webinar should register here. Questions about the webinar or the registration process can be sent electronically.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document that addresses how their review contractors (Medicare Administrative Contractors, Recovery Audit Contractors, and the Supplemental Medical Review Contractor) will conduct medical reviews after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Read the FAQ here.

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Date: November 16, 2022
Time: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm EST

The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule was made effective on March 17, 2014. The settings rule set specific requirements for settings presumed to have institutional characteristics, including settings in institutions, settings on the grounds of or adjacent to a public institution, and settings that have qualities that isolate Medicaid beneficiaries. Referred to as “presumptively institutional settings,” states are required to assess these settings and, where the state has determined that the setting overcomes the institutional presumption and the setting complies or will comply with the settings rule by March 17, 2023, submit to CMS documentation that demonstrates the setting’s compliance. CMS has launched a series of heightened scrutiny site visits to presumptively institutional settings in states. This training will cover:

  • An overview of CMS’ heightened scrutiny site visit process;
  • Overarching themes identified during CMS’ heightened scrutiny site visits; and
  • Considerations for states moving forward.

Following the presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to share any questions, comments, experiences, or suggestions with CMS and the presenter.

Please register for this webinar here.
Conference Line: 844-875-7777; Access Code: 715810#

Please note that closed captioning will be provided.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) published a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for November 12, 2022, that announces revisions to the Medical Assistance (MA) fee schedule for the OBRA Waiver and the Act 150 Program: Personal Assistance Services (PAS) (Agency with Choice) and Respite (Agency with Choice).

DHS proposes the following substantive and technical changes to the OBRA Waiver:

  • Add Agency with Choice as a Financial Management Services model for the participant-directed services of PAS and Respite;
  • Revise the Benefits Counseling service definition;
  • Amend the responsibilities of the Fiscal/Employer Agent;
  • Update the Quality Improvement Strategy to the current process;
  • Add a new performance measure for Agency with Choice; and
  • Remove a performance measure that is duplicative.

The proposed OBRA Waiver amendment and a summary of all revisions are available for review on the OLTL Waiver Amendments, Renewals, and Accompanying HCBS Transition Plans web page under Additional Resources.

The following table provides the procedure code and rates for PAS (Agency with Choice):

Region OBRA Waiver
and Act 150		 Procedure Code Modifier Rate Unit
1 X W0164 N/A $4.02 15 minutes
2 X W0164 N/A $3.89 15 minutes
3 X W0164 N/A $4.12 15 minutes
4 X W0164 N/A $4.58 15 minutes

The following table provides the procedure code and rates for Respite (Agency with Choice):

Region OBRA Waiver
and Act 150		 Procedure Code Modifier Rate Unit
1 X W0165 N/A $4 15 minutes
2 X W0165 N/A $3.90 15 minutes
3 X W0165 N/A $4.12 15 minutes
4 X W0165 N/A $4.59 15 minutes

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding these fee schedule rates and the proposed amendment to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: Robyn Kokus, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments can also be sent via email. Use ”OBRA 2023” as the subject line. Comments received within 30 days will be considered in subsequent revisions to the fee schedule or for revisions to the proposed amendment.

The revisions to the fee schedule and the amendment are proposed to take effect April 1, 2023.

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Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) published the proposed amendment to the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for November 12, 2022.

DHS and OLTL are proposing to amend the CHC Waiver by adding Agency with Choice as a Financial Management Services (FMS) model for the participant-directed services of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Respite. This would modify Service Coordinator and Service Coordinator Supervisor qualifications to align with the CHC Agreement and to amend the service definitions for the following CHC waiver services:

  • Benefits Counseling;
  • Nursing Services;
  • Physical Therapy Services;
  • Occupational Therapy Services; and
  • Speech and Language Therapy Services.

Also proposed is a technical change to the waiver by revising performance measures.

The proposed CHC waiver amendment and summary of all revisions are available for review on the OLTL Waiver Amendments, Renewals, and Accompanying HCBS Transition Plans web page under Additional Resources.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding the proposed waiver amendment to the Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Living, Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management, Attention: CHC 2023 Waiver Amendment, P.O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8025. Comments may also be submitted to the Department via email. Use ”CHC 2023 Waiver Amendment” as the subject line. Comments received within 30 days of publication of this notice will be reviewed and considered for revisions to the proposed waiver amendment.

The proposed amendment will be effective April 1, 2023.

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